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Author Topic: How does IMAX make money with so few prints? Rob Butler Film Handler Posts: 91 From: Westford, MA, USA Registered: Mar 2004 posted 04-27-2004 02:02 PM                     IMAXXX? Although the thought of IMAX porn seems like a cool idea at first, there's certain things I don't really want to see 25' wide. Also, on a less repulsive topic, I heard a story about a theater in France that uses those battery powered lcd glasses. In France, there's no regulations against smoking in a theater, and there's also and IMAX theater that has problems with people putting their cigarettes out on the lenses of the $300+/each glasses.  |  IP: Logged Jerry Beck II Film Handler Posts: 3 From: Columbus, Ohio USA Registered: Mar 2004 posted 04-28-2004 09:50 AM                        Being a production person (and projectionista), IMAX films are VERY hard to make. All of the sound (OK 90% of it anyway) is looped because the cameras are so $#@!ing noisy. All of the film loads are short, so there aren't alot of long running shots... Everything is bulky... like really bulky. Most Arriflex 35mm (and even old Mitchell 70mm) cameras are a one person affair. No one (sane)person carries around a (full-size) IMAX camera. There are very small load cameras for special shots i.e. the everest summit shots... But man, imaging reloading every 2 minutes, or less... The reason they are plant-and-go shots so much is the 4 dudes (dudeettes?) that carried all that junk to the edge of the canyon are tired now and would like to take their break. The real reason all movies are expensive to make... Unions. But that's another rant... There are some great dolly shots and the obligatory photo-pod on the bottom of the F-16 through the grand canyon suckung your brains out your butt, however there are some new effects software things going on that are exciting. We just have to wait for Mr. MacG to make us some magic. As for the show, well I've never had the privledge to run this system, so I can't comment. I will say this about that though: In my experience in attending IMAX shows, the prints always seem to be top shelf, and if one goes south, they are generally replaced ASAP. At Cedar Point they had a print of Blue Planet that had developed great ugly emulsion-depth scratching (looked like giant green video dropouts) during the 2 days I stayed there. The first day, the first show was OK, but as the day wore on you could see the print getting worse and worse. The second day they ran a new(er) print, I thought that was pretty cool. Coming from a dollar theater background where new/fresh prints were virtually un-heard of, it was pretty cool to me. Side-note: We ran Dennis the Menace for nearly a full year. (really) Same print. The first 100' had a billion (perhaps an exaggeration) tape splices by the end. This is probably why Super Saver is gone... Of course the 'ol Monee's just kept on chewin' them prints.... Jerry Beck II jerry@vanguardprod.co m  |  IP: Logged Brian Michael Weidemann Expert cat molester Posts: 944 From: Costa Mesa, CA United States Registered: Feb 2004 posted 04-29-2004 01:31 AM                        Yes, in my experience, IMAX prints are rather quickly replaced when they become damaged such that presentation is compromised. Back in '98, the theatre I'm currently at (Irvine) had their Everest print scorched due to a hot-spot lamp (little green dancing dots on an IMAX print is an interesting sight!), and so my theatre-at-the-time (Ontario) had to sacrifice its Everest print (which didn't have as big an IMAX turnout ... the theatre, not the print) to the the Irvine location for the quick fix. And then the Ontario location had to wait for its new Everest, which was no time at all, really. When we opened Matrix Revolutions, we had a film-path problem that caused an emulsion scratch (opening weekend, of course), which only was evident on-screen for about ten seconds as a green line, and only two reels worth (non-consecutive, of course) out of 38, as a thin black line. We had replacement reels (thank you, DKP 70mm) in about 24 hours. No matter what company is running the IMAX theatre, it's really in IMAX Corporation's best interest to keep the brand name pristine, so presentation is of utmost importance. And in my experience, it is evident that they behave that way.  |  IP: Logged Leo Enticknap Film God Posts: 7474 From: Loma Linda, CA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 04-29-2004 02:29 AM                        quote: Rob Butler In France, there's no regulations against smoking in a theater... Really? I'd have thought that the European Union would have banned that by now. However, the French take no notice of EU decisions apart from making sure that they're imposed on the British! I no of no UK cinema whatsoever that still allows smoking, and have always believed that this must be a legal requirement. After all, there are virtually no other leisure industry premises which ban it - you would be hard pressed to find a bar or restaurant with a decent no smoking area in this country, and most are gas chambers.  |  IP: Logged Carl Martin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1424 From: Oakland, CA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 04-29-2004 03:35 AM                        for what it's worth, the paris theater i attended last august prohibited smoking. i don't know whether that was theater policy or law, or how much difference it would make anyways. at least in this instance, the rule was respected. in general (train stations, etc.) people would smoke openly right under no smoking signs with impunity. if i tried to tell people they couldn't, i was the asshole. pretty frustrating. carl  |  IP: Logged Rob Butler Film Handler Posts: 91 From: Westford, MA, USA Registered: Mar 2004 posted 04-29-2004 03:34 PM                     I've never personally been to france, so I don't know the validity of the story, just that the person that told it to me usually doesn't make stuff like that up. I also don't know when he noticed this so it could have been 10+ years ago, and the people could have been smoking illegally, reguardless, I thought is was a funny story.  |  IP: Logged Mitchell Cope Master Film Handler Posts: 256 From: Overland Park, KS, United States Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-30-2004 12:09 PM                     I've been under the impression that IMAX theaters have to buy their own prints. Is that true?  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 04-30-2004 01:15 PM                     Generally the end-user will buy their prints but this is countered by low film-rental fees compared to conventional 35mm. There is also a market for used prints or leasing plans, depending on the producer.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-30-2004 02:20 PM                     No, they don't all buy their own prints. Many, many 8/70 and 15/70 prints are available directly from the producer just as regular 35mm prints would be leased. There are some locations that do buy prints just to make their scheduling a bit easier where multiple programs are constantly changing such as Gords Theatre in Toronto. So far I have not heard of a film in which a large format exhibitor is required to purchase a print to be able to exhibit it. Many locations do have to agree to lengthy runs(leases) though, sometimes as long as six months with guaranteed runs X number of times a week after the first run lease period. Owning a print or not does not necessarily guarantee you cheaper rental rates either. Imax has what they call A, B, C, and D catagory films with A bookings being the newest and most expensive in cost to exhibit...last I heard was 90% to Imax plus the percentages per seat on top of that and other totally rediclous Imax fringe benefit royalties that must be paid them. The C Grade stuff comprises most of the Imax films and the percentages are actually in your favor I believe Imax gets 40% and you get 60% and you'll find that these films are the more frequently exhibited ones. Few if any places exhibit D catagory stuff as its the least popular and sometimes extremely boring films. Note that I was given these catagories and figures several years ago by a lady at Imax that I talked to. It is more than likely they may have changed by now. Adam, Gord, can you clarify on the rental catagories as its stands now?? Thanks! Mark  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-30-2004 10:36 PM                     Almost all new 15/70 titles you pay for the print and then a fixed amount per seat occupied per show Older titles often the distrib will throw in a used print PS just because you bought the print doesn't mean you own it when the exhibition contract expires it has to be returned to the distributor at your expense  |  IP: Logged

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